Parasite Fly Turns Bees into Zombies

American scientists have discovered that a fly parasite can turn honey bees into confused zombies before killing them.

No, this is not the next horribly written M. Night Shyamalan movie. Scientists have discovered a parasitic fly that turns bees into real life bee-zombies by making them confused, leaving their hives in a “night of the living dead” manner and then dying in an effort to control their own body.

Biology professor John Hafernik, of San Francisco State University, discovered the parasite by accident when collecting bees.

What is the parasitic fly?

The Parasitic Phorid Fly Apocephalus borealis is responsible for the zombie transformation.

What bees are affected by the parasitic flies?

Previously, they had been known to attack bumble bee colonies, however the new discovery in the parasitic fly has been found in honey bees. Infected honey bees in California and South Dakota are the only ones that have been detected by researchers so far.

How are the bees affected by the parasitic flies?

The flies lay eggs in the lower abdomen of honey bees, and as they grow inside the bees, they cause the bees to fly from their nests, seek out bright lights and walk around in circles, or not walk at all, before dying. About a week after the bees die, the pupae flies emerge from the throats and heads.

An Upside to the Bee Zombie Apocalypse

"Scientists discovered the parasite by accident but they believe it may help them discover what is causing colony collapse disorder which is devastating honey bees in Europe and America cutting some populations in half," said San Francisco State University's Andrew Core lead author on the bee parasite study in the journal Plos One. Don’t worry zombie bees, your death was not in vain.

Scientists are still trying to find out how the parasite works, but an early theory Professor Hafernik holds that the parasite changes the bees' “body clocks” that changes how they act.

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01-05-12 Ag update

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sourced by Emily Sutherlin